Short biographical notes of Dominguez

He is the wonder boy of Mozambican football. He is a restless and phenomenal player. When he has the ball at your feet anything can happen. His soccer career began at the Xitala Mati [wetland], in the Airport neighborhood, Maputo city, where he had been accustomed to seeing him as a juggler of foot magic, who easily deceived the defenders.

Elias Gaspar Pelembe is his official name, but for having a style of playing very close to an irreverent striker of Sporting de Portugal, for years, was awarded the nickname of Dominguez.

In 1996, when he was 13 years old, he participated in BEBEC, a children’s football tournament. Dominguez stood out in the team of the Airport. That sporting event became their launch pad.

From BEBEC was integrated into the youth rank of the Estrela Vermelha de Maputo club. He remained in that formation for two seasons, under the guidance of “Mister” Chico, his first coach. It was also in the Estrela Vermelha de Maputo where he scored his first goal. He was still 13 years old and was in a game against the Ferroviário de Maputo.

The “Mister” Chico then went to Desportivo de Maputo and took Dominguez with him for the team alvi-negra, the midfielder had a meteoric rise, despite being neat, and his football dragged crowds for the spectacular.

He had his first injury in 2006, at a time when he was the best player and the most punctuated athlete of Mozambican football championship, Moçambola. The injury deprived him of winning those two prizes, but returned in time to play in the final of the Mozambique Cup, in front of Têxtil Púnguè. In addition to helping his team do the double, Dominguez won the title of “Best Player” of the competition.

Ads.

The player then lived a strong environment of comments, where it was alleged that Mozambican football was already too small for him. Under this environment, he had proposals to go testing in Portugal and Greece, and a contract proposal from South Africa’s Super Sport United.

In Greece, Dominguez would experience Panathinaikos along with Simão Mate. However, the wonder boy had already been tested in European clubs in previous years and was not hired.

Elias Pelembe had to choose between going to test at Panathinaikos or going to sign contract at Super Sport. Taking into account previous experiences and the environment he lived, he decided to sign a contract with the South African club, to the disenchantment of many football supporters in Mozambique, who wanted to see him evolve in Europe. The challenge would increase in tone when Simão Mate was hired by Panathinaikos after the tests.

In the South African championship, Dominguez arrived and convinced. In his debut (season 2007-2008) was champion and “Best Player” of the Premier Soccer League (PSL). The following season, the story repeated itself.

However, at first time Dominguez had problems with the language. He even attended an English course to communicate better, but his lifeline ended up being Xichangana (Bantu language spoken in southern Mozambique). His coach used that language to communicate with him off the field, but within the four lines his framing was easy because the language is universal.

Ads.

After the 2008-2009 season, PSL’s “Best Player” was one of the most expensive transfers in South African football. FIFA data indicated that the transfer of the Mozambican to Mamelodi Sundowns, club of South African magnate Patrice Motsepe, was valued at 500 thousand euros, and the athlete would receive an order of 20 thousand euros monthly, modest values ​​for football African.

He played in the Sundowns until July 1, 2015. During the period, he won a championship (2013-2014) and was voted “Best Athlete” of the team during the Mamelodi Sundowns gala in the State of Ghalangher, in Midrand, in a vote carried out by his colleagues.

With the election, Dominguez summed up the monetary value of 150 thousand rands, after an era that did not start in the best way for him due to injuries that made him lose several games. Pelembe made 21 PSL games and scored just two goals. Despite not having scored many goals, the midfielder was instrumental in assists.

Although he said, intended to end his football career at Sundows, when the contract was renewed in January 2012 for another three years, the athlete moved to Bidvest Wits after being free on 1 July 2015. It was the decisive factor for his decision was the fact that Gavin Hunt, coach of Bidvest Witts, had worked with him at Super Sport United. With the clever boys jersey, the athlete won the prestigious MTN Cup in October 2016.

Dominguez started playing in the National Soccer Team, Mambas, in 2004. From there to this part, the captain has already played more than 45 games and scored 16 goals.

Elias Pelembe intends to be a sports manager after hanging his football boots, but has begun to prepare his retirement. The footballer is investing in real estate in both Mozambique and South Africa. In the land of Madiba, Dominguez lives with his wife and three children named: Diogo; Santiago; and Melissa.